The book grew, she says, out of independent pamphlets written to help parents understand the Montessori method.

And her explanations are clear, essentialised and replete with examples that make her points easily understood, says experienced Montessorian Dr. Michael Berliner.

At the same time, she possesses an ability to identify in clear terms the "why’s", i.e., the important ideas on which classroom practice is based. Not only is she philosophically astute, but her long experience as a Montessori teacher and her sensitivity enable her to provide a multitude of anecdotes, including conversations with children, that keep the discussion in "the real world". She also answers questions and doubts that parents have raised over the years and applies her knowledge of Montessori to matters (e.g., computer use) that postdate Maria Montessori. The result is that a Montessori parent - including me with four decades of hindsight - can say, "Oh, that's what's going on with my child" and "that's why he's doing that in class." But just as important, a parent who is considering sending a child to a Montessori school will learn the most important lesson from Charlotte Cushman's book: why Montessori matters for a child's success and happiness.

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